🛡️ Ransomware gangs exploiting Windows Task Host flaw

CISA confirmed that ransomware gangs are actively exploiting a high-severity Windows Task Host vulnerability. This security flaw, tracked as CVE-2025-60710, affects Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025 devices. It was patched by Microsoft in November 2025, and CISA listed it as actively exploited on April 13. Successful exploitation allows local attackers with basic permissions to gain full SYSTEM control over unpatched systems. CISA is advising agencies to apply vendor mitigations immediately to prevent further breaches. 🚨

🤖 Tecno Pova 8 Pro 5G drops in India with cool AI features

Tecno has officially launched the Pova 8 Pro 5G smartphone in the Indian market. This new handset features an Alive Matrix Display and powerful AI call assistant capabilities in India. It will be available from August 21, 2026, starting at Rs 49,999 on Flipkart and retail stores. The phone boasts a 1.5K 144Hz AMOLED screen and a 50MP Sony LYTIA 700C sensor for photos. An instant cashback of Rs 3,000 makes the effective price Rs 46,999. 📱

🏸 Lakshya Sen stages epic comeback win at BWF Worlds

Lakshya Sen pulled off an incredible comeback win against Collins Filimon at the BWF World Championships. This match took place in New Delhi, India, on August 18, 2026. Sen won in three games, defeating Filimon 16-21, 21-8, and 21-4. His turnaround came after struggling in the first game due to wind and initial tactics. He now progresses to the second round of the tournament. 🏸

🗓️ Tripura banks closed on Aug 19 for Maharaja's birthday

Banks across Tripura will be shut down on Wednesday, August 19, to observe the birthday of Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur. This specific holiday is regional and does not affect banks elsewhere in India. Later in the month, closures are scheduled for August 25 and August 26 across various states. Customers can still use digital services like UPI and mobile banking during the closure. Transactions needing a physical branch visit must be completed beforehand.

🔭 Milky Way growth started way earlier than thought

Astronomers found proof of a major galactic collision that happened nearly 12 billion years ago using the Hubble Space Telescope. This event involved the dwarf galaxy Low-energy-Kraken-Heracles (LKH) merging with the young Milky Way about 11.8 billion years ago. The discovery, published on 17 August in Nature Astronomy, pushes back the Milky Way's growth history by 1.8 billion years. This merger added significant stars, gas, and dark matter to the galaxy when it was still small. The team plans to study more clusters to reconstruct the Milky Way's turbulent history. 🔭

🩺 Endometriosis linked to higher diabetes risk in women

A new study suggests that women dealing with endometriosis face a 46 per cent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Researchers at George Mason University followed nearly three million women in the Utah Population Database from 1996 to 2021. This finding indicates that the risk varies across different types of endometriosis. Chronic inflammation from the condition might be leading to insulin resistance and diabetes. Future research could help clinicians screen these women earlier for diabetes prevention. 🩺

🌱 Farmers now earn from carbon, not just crops

Several Indian startups are enabling farmers to generate income from sequestering atmospheric carbon. Varaha, Mitti Labs, Boomitra, and Prithu are key players in this emerging climate-tech space. These companies use AI and satellite data to verify carbon removal from practices like regenerative farming and AWD. Farmers receive a significant share of the revenue generated from these verified carbon credits. The goal is to create sustainable income streams beyond traditional agricultural yields. 🌾

⌚ Fitness watch buying guide: don't just check specs

Fitness smartwatches are popular for tracking daily activity and workouts, but choosing the right one requires more than just features. Users must consider their specific exercise routine and the depth of fitness tracking they require. Heart rate monitoring, battery life, and comfort while wearing the device are crucial daily factors. Compatibility with a smartphone and built-in GPS are important depending on outdoor activity needs. Ultimately, the decision should align with whether the user needs a dedicated fitness tracker or a full-fledged smartwatch. ⌚

🧠 AI is making healthcare software way smarter

Multimodal AI is revolutionizing healthcare software by processing diverse data types like images, text, and audio. This technology allows systems to understand broader clinical contexts, moving beyond single-data analysis methods. Integrating this capability helps developers build intelligent platforms that unify fragmented patient information across various systems. Applications can now offer comprehensive views by combining X-rays with patient history and lab results. Ultimately, this enhances clinical decision-making and streamlines tedious documentation processes.

🏭 L&T pivots from dairy to AI tech empire

L&T secured a huge contract worth up to Rs 15,000 crore to build an AI factory in Chennai for US firm Together AI. This new facility will utilize around 10,000 Nvidia B300 GPUs for the AI cloud platform. This move follows a recent Rs 5,000 crore investment plan for a new electronics business. L&T is leveraging its heavy engineering muscle to enter the high-tech infrastructure of the AI economy. The company aims to transition from executing projects to developing its own IP-led technology products. 🤖

💣 Houthis hit Saudi Aramco refinery again

The Iran-aligned Houthi group claimed a third attack on Saudi Aramco’s Jazan oil refinery on the Red Sea coast. The strikes were conducted by Houthi forces in southwestern Saudi Arabia. This incident occurred amidst escalating regional hostilities and a deadlock in U.S.-Iran talks. The refinery, which has previously been targeted, was closed in July after an earlier attack. These actions are increasing security risks to Middle East oil flows. ⛽